Oil burner controlling apparatus



Nov. 5, 19 35. c. VETTER 2,020,167

' OIL BURNER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1935 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENT I ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1935. c. P. VETTER I OIL BURNER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1933 2 SheetsSheet 2 i ll III! II:

i Z m a v. o z ag win - a a a a a a %?//V//// INVENTOR BY GM mG-hh7 A ORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention'relates to oil burners, and particularly to automatic apparatus for controlling the supply of oil, Water and steam or air thereto.

The principal object of my'invention is to pro- 5 vide apparatus of relatively simple construction to regulate the feed of oilqto a burner and the accompanying elements required to modify and atomize the oil in predetermined proportions, which proportions remain substantially constant under all working conditions of the boiler.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of pressure controlled apparatus of novel construction and arrangement for actuating in unison the valvular system supplying the .various elements required to support combustion, said apparatus being responsive to variations in pressure of the boiler and varying the feedof said elements to the fire to maintain the working conditions of the boiler in substantial uniformity.

A still further object of the invention is to provide automatic operative apparatus particularly adapted to supply and control elements of atomization and combustion to oil burner of the type described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,823,012, dated September 15, 1931,

issued to Peter G. Vetter. v

Other objects and advantages residing in my invention, and objects relating to details of construction and arrangements of parts thereof,

will be fully set forth in the detailed description to follow. 7 V

The accompanyingdrawings illustrate by way of example a representative form of my invention, in which: 7 y

1 Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention shown attached in operative condition to a boiler.

Figure 2 is'a view in front elevation of a portion of the same. v Figure 3 is a similar viewin plan. a

V Figure 4 is an enlarged detached view in vertical section of the pressure controlling apparatus. V v

Figure 5 is a view in'longitudinal vertical section of an oil burner adapted to be utilized in connection with my apparatus. r

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in horizontal longitudinal section of the samer Referring to said views and particularly to Figures 5 and 6, the reference numeral l0 indicates the chambered body of an oil burner substantially similar in construction and planof: operation to that described in the aforesaidprior patenti Said :body includes steam and oil chambers H 56 and I2, respectively, divided by a partition l3,

A tubular casing I5 is connected to the body at the opposite end of the chamber ll having a' burner tip H5 at its opposite end. An oil-feed pipe 11 is connected in the partition [3 to communicate with the chamber [2 and extends centrally of the casing [5 to adjacent its end where it is provided with an outlet-tip [8 within the burner tip H5. The casing l5 and pipe I! are spaced apart to form an amiular passage 20 for the flow of steam from the chamber l I past the 10 oil outlet-tip I8 to the orifice 2| of the burner-tip. To the rear of the chamber [2 of the body I0 a nipple 22 extends through the rear of the body having a bore 23 in axial alignment with the casing I5.

which extends through the chamber [2 and 1ongitudinally within the oil-pipe I! to provide a passage 26 thereabout for the oil, and terminates in an inner extremity 21 formed with an end 20 aperture and a plurality of apertures 28 spaced apart along its length. A slip-tube 29 is slidably movable within the bore of the pipe I! and its inner end may be adjusted about the end of the tube 25 to close a desired number of the aper- 25 tures'28 to afford the area of such openings to furnish the proportion of water deemed advantageous to mix with the oil. The structure thus outlined will be found described at length in said.

prior patent. 30

Referring to Figure 1, 30 indicates an electric motor to whose power-shaft 3| an oil-pump 32 and air-blower or any suitable compressor 33,

r are operatively connected. .The blower may be with which the oil burner apparatus is associated and shown in operative relation thereto in said view. A valve 42 is interposed in the pipe 36 to close the latter pipe when steam is being supplied to the burner sufficient for atom- .ization of the oil and. the use of air is not further 50 desired. A pipe 43 provided with a valve 45 is branched from the steam-supply pipe 38 and is connected in a tapped opening 46 in the body 10 leading into the oil chamber l2 and serves to conduct steam under pressure therein and Said nipple is counter-bored to rigidly 5 7 receive the outer end of a water supply tube 25 into the oil passage 26 so that when required any stricture or stopping of the passage or outlet may be cleared by blowing a jet of steam therethrough. Fuel oil of a suitable grade is supplied to the burner under pressure from the pump 32 through a pipe 41 screw-threaded at its other end in an opening 48 in the body l0 leading into the chamber l2 opposite the pipe 43. From thence the oil flows through the passage 26 of the pipe H, as has been described. I v

Water under city-main or other pressure is supplied through a pipe 49 connected to the outer end of the nipple 22 from whenceit flows through the bore 23 and tube 25 to mingle with the oil, as described. A cut-off valve 50 is interposed in said water supply pipe.

Each of the pipes 38, 41 and 49, for steam; oil A and water, respectively, is provided with a regu-,

lating valve, of the gate or other suitable type, for governing the flow of liquid to the burner. Said valves, indicated by the numerals 5i 52 and 53, respectively, are all provided with'valve stems 55 directed in parallel and in the same direction upon each of which a toothed pinion 56, 51 and- 58 is respectively keyed, all of said pinions lying in'the same vertical plane and in perimetrical toothed engagement with a gear-wheel 69 keyed upon a shaft 6 I Said shaft is rotatably mounted in a bracket 62 rigidly secured about the exterior of the body I0 and is provided on its opposite end with a hand-wheel 63 through which the coordinated valves 5|, 52 and 53 may be opened or closed under certain conditions to be explained. The meshed engagement of said pinions with said gear actuates all of said valves in unison and the extent of relative opening or closing of the valves will be proportional to the relative number of teeth formed therein, so that the supply of liquid passed through the several valves will remain in constant ratio. Thus with the actuating gear provided with 60 teeth the steam oil and water controlling pinions 56,'5T and 58, will be formed with approximately 25,30 and 40 teeth, respectively. I

Keyed to the opposite end of the shaft BI is a pulley-wheel 64 about which a chain-or belt 65 is passed and secured. The belt 65 also extends and is secured about a pulley-wheel '86 keyed upon a rock-shaft 61 rotatably mounted in brackets 68 rigidly secured on the boilerfrontor any other suitable support. r

Apparatus is provided to control the actuation of said coordinated valves through operative con- 'nection with said rock-shaft, and consists (see especially Fig. 4) of a cylinder T0 provided with a piston H therein connected to an end of a rod 12 which is engaged at its other end in a slotted lever 73 keyed on said rock-shaft and which may be disconnected therefrom through a removable clevis-pin T4. Said piston is yieldingly maintained in its upper-most position by means of a coiled spring '15 in said cylinder wherein said coordinated valves for supply of steam, oil and water are opened to their predetermined extreme open condition.

One end of the cylinder 10 is closed by a head which is provided with two branch ducts or passages 11, 11', .the first being a supply branch and the other an exhaust branch, and both communicating with the cylinder through a common passage-way 16. The passage-way H is connected with a pipe 18 controlled by a'valve 18 with M the steam-chest, not shown, of the boiler to fur- 75 nish steam pressure upon the top of the piston H and in opposition to the spring 15 to depress said piston in the cylinder against the tension of said spring in proportion to the excess of pressure and thereby actuate the rock-shaft and close the valves controlled by the gear 68 to a 5 proportionate degree. Said duct, however, is provided with a valve 19 having a valve-closure and stem therefor normally closed under action of a spring 8|. Said valve-stem is operatively engage'able by an adjustablev screw 82 carried by 10 a lever 83 pivotally mounted at 83 and connected by a rod 84 at one end whose other end is connected centrally of a pressure responsive diaphragm 85 mounted in a well-known manner in a housing 86, supported by said pipe 18. It will 15 be noted-thatsaid pipe 18 is partially supported by said head. The steam-chamber 81 above said diaphragm communicates with the steam pipe 78 and receives the steam pressure of the boiler to effect the distortion downwardly of said dia- 20 phragm with consequent movement of the rod 85 as determined by the tension of a spring 88 adjustably arranged between the diaphragm and a nut At the end of the duct 11 opposite to the valve 19 an escape valve 9| is provided to 2'5 admit of the release of pressure in the cylinder iii upon the return of the lever 82 to its normal medial position with consequent closing of the valve 19, the opening of the valve 9| is efiected by an adjustable screw 92 carried by an arm 30'" tively, with an ash-pit or other draft regulat- 35 ing damper 91 and a flue-damper 98 in the flue 99, whereby said dampers are opened or closed in unison and in response to steam pressure as it afiects the diaphragm 85 and piston "H.

The operation of my regulating apparatus will 40 be readily understood from the foregoing description. In brief rsum, it will be seen that in starting operations when no or insuificient steam is obtainable from the boiler and the rock-shaft 6! has been disconnected from operative con- 45 nection with the rod 12 through the removal of the clevis-pin 14 the blower 33 is connected to the motor 30 by the clutch 35 to supply a sufficient working pressure of air through the pipe 36 to the chamber H and thence through the pas- 50 sage 20 to the burner tip, to there cause the atomization of the oil and water issuing from the tip I8 and blow the same through the orifice 2|, the oil and Water thus combined with the air enters the combustion chamber in a combustible 55 mixture which may be readily ignited to support an efiicient flame. V

During such preliminary operations the steam, oil and water Valves 5|, 52 and '53 are regulated in unison by means of the hand-wheel 63 which 60 will also set the dampers in approximately cor rect position. As soon as steam has been generated in the boiler to a sufficient pressure to actuate the diaphragm 85 the rod 12 is again connected with the lever 13 of the rock-shaft, the 65 clutch 35 is disconnected, and the valve 42 is closed to establish the automatic control of the oil burner.

When the valve I8 is opened the steam pressure of theboiler will be communicated to the 70 diaphragm 85 and when the pressure is in excess of the combined resistance of the diaphragm and the tension of the spring 88 the-valve 19 will bepushed open to admit steam into the cylinder l0 and thus activate the piston H and 75 mon passage-way, a normally closed valve also rod 12 in opposition to the spring 15 to rock the shaft 61 and thus rotate the gear 6|) to open the supply valves 52 and 53 accordingly. Similarly increase and reduction of pressure above a minimum working pressure will react immediately upon the inlet valves for the supply of steam, oil and water at whatever ratio they may be set and regulate such supply in unison and in predetermined proportions.

I claim:

1. An oil burner control apparatus comprising valves for controlling the supply of oil, steam and water respectively to a burner, a rotatable operating member, means for so connecting said valves and said operating member that the valves are actuated simultaneously therewith in a predetermined ratio with respect to each other, a rotatable actuator operatively connected With said operating member, a cylinder, a head closing one end of said cylinder, said head having an inlet and an exhaust passage communicating with the interior of the cylinder through a commounted on said head and controlling said inlet passage, a steam conduit having its discharge end connected With said'inlet passage, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected with said actuator, means normally tending to move the piston toward said head, pressure responsive means supported by said steam conduit and in communication therewith so as to be responsive to the steam pressure within said conduit, and means 'operated by said pressure-responsive means for unseating said valve when the steam pressure reaches a predetermined maximum.

2. An oil burner control apparatus comprising 'valves for controlling the supply or oil, steam conduit having its discharge end connected with said inlet passage, normally seated valves independently controlling the inlet and the outlet passages, a pressure-responsive device supported by said steam conduit and in communication therewith, and means connected with said pressureresponsive device for selectively unseating said Valves at predetermined pressures in said conduit.

7 3. An oil burner control apparatus comprising valves for controlling the supply of oil, steam and water respectively to a burner, a rotatable operating member, means for so connecting said valves and said operating member that the valves are actuated simultaneously therewith in a predetermined ratio with respect to each other, a rotatable actuator operatively connected with said operating member, a cylinder, a head closing one end of said cylinder, said head having an inlet passage and an exhaust passage communicating with the cylinder through a common passageway, normally seated valves controlling the respective passage-Ways, a lever pivotally mounted on said head and provided with means to engage '5 and unseat said valves, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected with said actuator, means normally tending to move the piston toward said head, a steam conduit supported by said head and having its discharge end connected with said 10 inlet passage, a pressure-responsive device supported by said steam conduit and communicating therewith, and means connecting said pressure-responsive device with said lever.

4. An oil burner control apparatus comprising valves for controlling the supply of oil, steam and water respectively to a burner, a rotatable operating member, means for so connecting said valves and said operating member that the valves are actuated simultaneously therewith in a predetermined ratio with respect to each other, a rotatable actuator operatively connected with said operating member, a cylinder, a head closing one end of said cylinder and'having a central passage-way therein provided with lateral supply and exhaust branches, normally closed valves supported by said head and controlling said branches,

a lever pivotally mounted upon said head in such manner that the ends thereof overhang said valves, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected with said actuator, means normally tending to move the piston toward said head, a steam conduit supported by said head and having its discharge end connected with one of said branches, a pressure-responsive device supported by said steam conduit and communicating therewith, means connecting said pressure-responsive device with said lever, and abutment screws in the ends of said lever positioned to engage said valves.

5. An oil burner control apparatus comprising valves for controlling the supply of oil, steam and water respectively to a burner, a rotatable operating member, means for so connecting said valves and said operating member that the valves are actuated simultaneously therewith in a predetermined ratio with respect to each other, a rotatable actuator operatively connected with said operating member, a cylinder, a head closing one end of said cylinder and having a central passage-way therein provided with lateral supply and exhaust branches, normally closed valves supported by said head and controlling said branches,

a lever pivotally mounted upon said head in such manner that the ends thereof overhang said valves, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected with said actuator, means normally tending to move the piston toward said head, a steam conduit supported by said head and having its discharge end connected with one of said branches, a chamber supported by said steam conduit and communicating therewith, a diaphragm extending across said chamber, means for normally and yieldably holding the diaphragm in a predetermined position, and a rod connected to said diaphragm and said lever.

CHARLES P. VETTER. 

